1
: commercial iron that contains carbon in any amount up to about 1.7 percent as an essential alloying constituent, is malleable when under suitable conditions, and is distinguished from cast iron by its malleability and lower carbon content
2
: an instrument or implement of or characteristically of steel: such as
a
: a thrusting or cutting weapon
b
: an instrument (such as a fluted round rod with a handle) for sharpening knives
c
: a piece of steel for striking sparks from flint
3
: a quality (such as hardness of mind or spirit) that suggests steel
nerves of steel
4
a
: the steel manufacturing industry
b
steels plural
: shares of stock in steel companies
steeled; steeling; steels
1
: to overlay, point, or edge with steel
2
a
: to cause to resemble steel (as in looks or hardness)
b
: to fill with resolution or determination
steeled herself to face the crisis
1
: made of steel
2
: of or relating to the production of steel
3
: resembling steel
Synonyms
Examples of steel in a Sentence
Noun
The beams are made of steel.
Steel is an important industry in this area.
The invaders were driven back by steel.
the steel of a knife
Verb
hoped that his inspirational talk would steel the youths in the pursuit of their dreams
years of running a farm had steeled the hard-bitten woman
Recent Examples on the Web
Chris Isidore, CNN, 12 Apr. 2024
All the deletions make the F40 supremely lithe A tubular steel chassis and the Kevlar body panels, in concert with the removal of all other non-essential bits, leave the F40’s curb weight clocking in at 2,433 pounds.
—Sean Evans, Robb Report, 11 Apr. 2024
For the past half hour, the crew navigated the hulking vessel through relatively calm waters and lined it up to pass perfectly under the main truss of the steel bridge, softly lit in the early morning darkness.
—USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2024
Construction crews on Wednesday hoisted a final steel beam to top off the tower at just over 681 feet.
—Detroit Free Press, 11 Apr. 2024
Complete with a strainer lid, jigger cap, citrus reamer, and shatterproof steel rocks, this nestable set can be stacked into the shaker for easy transportation — whether that’s to the next campsite or the next party.
—Alyssa Brascia, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2024
The Rust Belt signifies the deindustrialization of major U.S. steel hubs in the Northwest and Mideast as manufacturing moved abroad.
—Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 10 Apr. 2024
While cybercriminals are forever prying at the steel door that is online security, companies like Cox Communications continue to invest in the latest technology to innovate and make sure that door is impenetrable.
—Advertorial, Orange County Register, 10 Apr. 2024
The dramatic color images taken Tuesday by a CODA sonar system show large portions of the bridge's arched steel beams lying below the water's surface.
—Luis Martinez, ABC News, 10 Apr. 2024
Rachel Weiner, Washington Post, 26 Mar. 2024
Years of walking into spaces designed for men had steeled me for this moment and ignited my resolve to dominate the table.
—Julia Rafal-Baer, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
Nuclear Acceleration: Xi Jinping, China’s leader, built up a nuclear arsenal, steeling for a growing rivalry with the United States.
—Mike Isaac, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2024
Now, with Trump pulling slightly ahead of President Joe Biden in some national polls, U.S. allies are steeling themselves for a possible MAGA restoration with equal measures of dread and pragmatism.
—Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, 6 Mar. 2024
My six-month-old son saps all my energy but also steels my resolve to protect it.
—Yasmin Tayag, The Atlantic, 18 Jan. 2024
Do your best to steel yourself and take in difficult feedback without coming unglued.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 12 Feb. 2024
Readying for the long haul The need for more troops comes as Ukraine steels itself for a long war.
—Serhii Korolchuk, Washington Post, 8 Dec. 2023
But another contingent is steeling itself for a fight, arguing that regulators have overstepped their authority and hobbled critical health care infrastructure by targeting trackers.
$30 for your first 3 months.
—Katie Palmer, STAT, 19 Dec. 2023
Sophie Haigney, Curbed, 13 July 2021
Noun
Different ways to make steel Neither US Steel nor Cleveland Cliffs are the largest American steel company today.
—Chris Isidore, CNN, 12 Apr. 2024
All the deletions make the F40 supremely lithe A tubular steel chassis and the Kevlar body panels, in concert with the removal of all other non-essential bits, leave the F40’s curb weight clocking in at 2,433 pounds.
—Sean Evans, Robb Report, 11 Apr. 2024
For the past half hour, the crew navigated the hulking vessel through relatively calm waters and lined it up to pass perfectly under the main truss of the steel bridge, softly lit in the early morning darkness.
—USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2024
Construction crews on Wednesday hoisted a final steel beam to top off the tower at just over 681 feet.
—Detroit Free Press, 11 Apr. 2024
Complete with a strainer lid, jigger cap, citrus reamer, and shatterproof steel rocks, this nestable set can be stacked into the shaker for easy transportation — whether that’s to the next campsite or the next party.
—Alyssa Brascia, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2024
The Rust Belt signifies the deindustrialization of major U.S. steel hubs in the Northwest and Mideast as manufacturing moved abroad.
—Ryan Hogg, Fortune Europe, 10 Apr. 2024
While cybercriminals are forever prying at the steel door that is online security, companies like Cox Communications continue to invest in the latest technology to innovate and make sure that door is impenetrable.
—Advertorial, Orange County Register, 10 Apr. 2024
The dramatic color images taken Tuesday by a CODA sonar system show large portions of the bridge's arched steel beams lying below the water's surface.
—Luis Martinez, ABC News, 10 Apr. 2024
Verb
Commuters are steeling themselves for drives lasting three or four times as long.
—Rachel Weiner, Washington Post, 26 Mar. 2024
Years of walking into spaces designed for men had steeled me for this moment and ignited my resolve to dominate the table.
—Julia Rafal-Baer, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
Nuclear Acceleration: Xi Jinping, China’s leader, built up a nuclear arsenal, steeling for a growing rivalry with the United States.
—Mike Isaac, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2024
Now, with Trump pulling slightly ahead of President Joe Biden in some national polls, U.S. allies are steeling themselves for a possible MAGA restoration with equal measures of dread and pragmatism.
—Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, 6 Mar. 2024
My six-month-old son saps all my energy but also steels my resolve to protect it.
—Yasmin Tayag, The Atlantic, 18 Jan. 2024
Do your best to steel yourself and take in difficult feedback without coming unglued.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 12 Feb. 2024
Readying for the long haul The need for more troops comes as Ukraine steels itself for a long war.
—Serhii Korolchuk, Washington Post, 8 Dec. 2023
But another contingent is steeling itself for a fight, arguing that regulators have overstepped their authority and hobbled critical health care infrastructure by targeting trackers.
$30 for your first 3 months.
—Katie Palmer, STAT, 19 Dec. 2023
Adjective
Around the country, mining operations have cropped up in an ex-steel mill in Calvert City, Kentucky; an ex-Gateway Computer industrial campus in South Dakota; a power plant in Hardin, Montana; a former airplane hangar in Big Spring, Texas; and old fruit warehouses in Eastern Washington State.
—Sophie Haigney, Curbed, 13 July 2021
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'steel.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English stele, from Old English stȳle, stēle; akin to Old High German stahal steel and perhaps to Sanskrit stakati he resists
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Adjective
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of steel was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing steel
Dictionary Entries Near steel
Cite this Entry
“Steel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/steel. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
steel
1 of 3 noun1
: commercial iron that contains carbon in any amount up to about 1.7 percent as a necessary part
2
: an article (as a sword) made of steel
3
: a hard cold quality
answered with steel in her voice
steel
2 of 3 verb
: to fill with courage or determination
steel
3 of 3 adjective1
: made of or like steel
2
: of or relating to the production of steel
More from Merriam-Webster on steel
Nglish: Translation of steel for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of steel for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about steel
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